Pants assembly

Abstract

The invention relates generally to a pants assembly comprising an outer shell, inner pants, and a retaining system with first and second retainers mounted to the inner pants and outer shell and a belt at least partially encircling the inner pants and being at least partially on an outer side of the outer shell for allowing fit adjustment of the inner pants and outer shell around the wearer's waist. The inner pants and outer shell are coupled together by the belt while the outer shell is movable relative to the inner pants.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pants assembly for a wearer having a lower spine region, lower ribs, a waist, a pelvic region with left and right hips, a crotch region, a genital area, and left and right thighs, the pants assembly comprising:
 (a) inner pants comprising a waist portion for covering the wearer's waist, a pelvic portion with front and rear panels for covering the wearer's pelvic region, a crotch portion for covering the wearer's crotch region and left and right leg portions for covering at least partially the left and right thighs of the wearer, the inner pants having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (b) an outer shell at least partially covering the inner pants, the outer shell having left and right leg sections covering the left and right leg portions of the inner pants, the outer shell having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (c) a belt having a first portion outside the outer shell and adjacent the outer side of the outer shell and a second portion inside the outer shell and adjacent the inner side of the outer shell and the outer side of the inner pants such that the belt at least partially encircles the waist portions of the inner pants and outer shell for allowing fit adjustment of the inner pants and outer shell around the wearer's waist; and 
 (d) a first retainer mounted to the outer side of the inner pants and a second retainer mounted to the inner side of the outer shell, wherein the belt is received in the first and second retainers such that the inner pants and outer shell are coupled together and wherein one of the first and second retainers is slidable along the belt for allowing movement of the outer shell relative to the inner pants. 
 
     
     
       2. The pants assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second retainer is a left second retainer mounted to a left portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion and wherein the pants assembly comprises a right second retainer mounted to a right portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion, the left and right second retainers being slidable along the belt. 
     
     
       3. The pants assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the pants assembly comprises a rear second retainer mounted to a rear portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion, the left, right and rear retainers being slidable along the belt. 
     
     
       4. The pants assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the left, right and rear second retainers comprise left, right and rear sleeves or loops. 
     
     
       5. The pants assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is removably received in the first retainer or in the second retainer such that the outer shell is removable from the inner pants. 
     
     
       6. The pants assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the belt remains on the outer shell when the outer shell is removed from the inner pants. 
     
     
       7. The pants assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the belt second portion has first and second ends and the outer shell has first and second belt openings allowing passage of the first and second ends of the belt such that the first and second ends of the belt are located outside the outer shell and adjacent a front portion of the outer side of the outer shell. 
     
     
       8. The pants assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pants assembly comprises first and second connectors mounted at the first and second ends of the belt for fastening the belt on the outer side of the outer shell and allowing fit adjustment of the outer shell and inner pants around the wearer's waist. 
     
     
       9. The pants assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first retainer is detachably affixed to outer side of the inner pants to allow a height of the outer shell to be adjustable relative to the inner pants. 
     
     
       10. The pants assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first retainer has a bottom section with hooks or loops and the outer side of the inner pants has a top section with hooks or loops for detachably affixing the first retainer to the inner pants. 
     
     
       11. The pants assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom section has a length between one and two inches and the top section has a length between two and four inches for allowing height adjustment along a range of about 1 inch to about two inches. 
     
     
       12. The pants assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first retainer has first and second separate openings, each opening allowing passage of an exposed portion of the belt from a first position to a second position where the belt exposed portion is retained in the first retainer, wherein a distance between the first and second separate openings allow a height of the outer shell to be adjustable relative to the inner pants. 
     
     
       13. A pants assembly for a wearer having a lower spine region, lower ribs, a waist, a pelvic region with left and right hips, a crotch region, a genital area, and left and right thighs, the pants assembly comprising:
 (a) inner pants comprising a waist portion for covering the wearer's waist, a pelvic portion with front and rear panels for covering the wearer's pelvic region, a crotch portion for covering the wearer's crotch region and left and right leg portions for covering at least partially the left and right thighs of the wearer, the inner pants having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (b) an outer shell at least partially covering the inner pants, the outer shell having left and right leg sections covering the left and right leg portions of the inner pants, the outer shell having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (c) a belt having a first portion outside the outer shell and adjacent the outer side of the outer shell and a second portion inside the outer shell and adjacent the inner side of the outer shell and the outer side of the inner pants such that the belt at least partially encircles the waist portions of the inner pants and outer shell for allowing fit adjustment of the inner pants and outer shell around the wearer's waist; and 
 (d) a left first retainer mounted to a left portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion, a right first retainer mounted to a right portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion, a left second retainer mounted to a left portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion, and a right second retainer mounted to a right portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion, wherein the belt is received in the left and right first retainers and left and right second retainers such that the inner pants and outer shell are coupled together, wherein the left and right first retainers or the left and right second retainers are slidable along the belt for allowing movement of the outer shell relative to the inner pants, and wherein the belt is removably received in the left and right first retainers or in the left and right second retainers such that the outer shell is removable from the inner pants. 
 
     
     
       14. The pants assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the left and right second retainers are slidable along the belt. 
     
     
       15. The pants assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the pants assembly comprises a rear second retainer mounted to a rear portion of the inner side of the outer shell at the waist portion, the left, right and rear second retainers being slidable along the belt. 
     
     
       16. The pants assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the left, right and rear second retainers comprise left, right and rear sleeves or loops. 
     
     
       17. The pants assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each of the left and right first retainers has an opening for allowing passage of an exposed portion of the belt from a first position to a second position where the belt exposed portion is retained in the first retainer. 
     
     
       18. The pants assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the belt remains on the outer shell when the outer shell is removed from the inner pants. 
     
     
       19. The pants assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the belt second portion has first and second ends and the outer shell has first and second belt openings allowing passage of the first and second ends of the belt such that the first and second ends of the belt are located outside the outer shell and adjacent a front portion of the outer side of the outer shell. 
     
     
       20. The pants assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pants assembly comprises first and second connectors mounted at the first and second ends of the belt for fastening the belt on the outer side of the outer shell and allowing fit adjustment of the outer shell and inner pants around the wearer's waist. 
     
     
       21. The pants assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the left first retainer is a front left first retainer mounted to a front left portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion, wherein the right first retainer is a front right first retainer mounted to a front right portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion, and wherein the pants assembly comprises a rear left first retainer mounted to a rear left portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion and a rear right first retainer mounted to a rear right portion of the outer side of the inner pants at the waist portion. 
     
     
       22. The pants assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first retainers is detachably affixed to outer side of the inner pants to allow a height of the outer shell to be adjustable relative to the inner pants. 
     
     
       23. The pants assembly of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first retainers has a bottom section with hooks or loops and the outer side of the inner pants has a top section with hooks or loops for detachably affixing the first retainer to the inner pants. 
     
     
       24. The pants assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom section has a length between one and two inches and the top section has a length between two and four inches for allowing height adjustment along a range of about 1 inch to about two inches. 
     
     
       25. The pants assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first retainers has first and second separate openings, each opening allowing passage of an exposed portion of the belt from a first position to a second position where the belt exposed portion is retained in the first retainer, wherein a distance between the first and second separate openings allow a height of the outer shell to be adjustable relative to the inner pants. 
     
     
       26. A pants assembly for a wearer, the pants assembly comprising:
 (a) inner pants comprising a waist portion for covering a waist of the wearer, a pelvic portion with front and rear panels for covering a pelvic region of the wearer, a crotch portion for covering the a crotch region of the wearer and left and right leg portions for covering at least partially left and right thighs of the wearer; 
 (b) an outer shell at least partially covering the inner pants, the outer shell having left and right leg sections at least partially covering the left and right leg portions of the inner pants; and 
 (c) a retainer mounted to one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell, wherein the retainer supports a portion of the other one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell in different predetermined positions to allow a height of the pants assembly to be adjusted between predetermined heights. 
 
     
     
       27. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the retainer is affixable to an outer side of the inner pants at different heights. 
     
     
       28. The pants assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the retainer is detachable from the outer side of the inner pants. 
     
     
       29. The pants assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the retainer has a section with hooks or loops and the outer side of the inner pants has a section with hooks or loops for detachably affixing the retainer to the inner pants. 
     
     
       30. The pants assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the sections are dimensioned to allow height adjustment of the pants assembly in a range of about 1 inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
       31. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the retainer has first and second separate openings, each opening receiving said portion of said other one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell, wherein the first and second separate openings are separated in height to allow the height of the pants assembly to be adjusted. 
     
     
       32. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said other one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell comprises a portion of the outer shell adjacent an inner side of the outer shell and an outer side of the inner pants. 
     
     
       33. The pants assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the retainer has first and second openings, each opening receiving said portion of the outer shell adjacent an inner side of the outer shell and the outer side of the inner pants, wherein the first and second openings are separated in height to allow the height of the pants assembly to be adjusted. 
     
     
       34. The pants assembly of  claim 33 , the retainer being one of a plurality of retainers around the waist portion of the inner pants. 
     
     
       35. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , the retainer mounted to the inner pants and supporting a portion of the outer shell in different positions to allow a height of the pants assembly to be adjusted. 
     
     
       36. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , the retainer mounted to the outer shell and supporting a portion of the inner pants in different positions to allow a height of the pants assembly to be adjusted. 
     
     
       37. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the retainer comprises sleeves or loops. 
     
     
       38. The pants assembly of  claim 26 , wherein a belt portion is removably received in the retainer such that the outer shell is removable from the inner pants. 
     
     
       39. The pants assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the belt portion remains on the outer shell when the outer shell is removed from the inner pants. 
     
     
       40. A protective pant for a wearer, the protective pant comprising:
 a waist portion for overlying a waist of the wearer; 
 a pelvic portion for overlying a pelvic region of the wearer; 
 a pair of leg portions for overlying left and right thighs of the wearer; and 
 a retaining system interconnecting a first part of the protective pant and a second part of the protective pant and configured for moving the first part of the protective pant and the second part of the protective pant relative to one another to adjust a height of the protective pant, the retaining system comprising a first retaining element and a second retaining element that is selectively attachable to and detachable from the first retaining element, at least one of the first and second retaining elements being selectively attachable to and detachable from a respective part of the protective pant in different positions to adjust the height of the protective pant. 
 
     
     
       41. The protective pant of  claim 40 , wherein the first retaining element has a plurality of openings at different heights. 
     
     
       42. The protective pant of  claim 40 , wherein the first retaining element is an E-shaped retaining member. 
     
     
       43. The protective pant of  claim 40 , wherein the first and second retaining elements are adjacent the waist portion. 
     
     
       44. A pants assembly, comprising:
 (a) inner pants comprising a waist portion for covering a wearer's waist and left and right leg portions for covering at least partially left and right thighs of the wearer, the inner pants having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (b) an outer shell at least partially covering the inner pants, the outer shell having left and right leg sections covering the left and right leg portions of the inner pants, the outer shell having inner and outer sides and a waist portion; 
 (c) a belt having a first portion outside the outer shell and adjacent the outer side of the outer shell and a second portion inside the outer shell and adjacent the inner side of the outer shell and the outer side of the inner pants such that the belt at least partially encircles the waist portions of the inner pants and outer shell for allowing fit adjustment of the inner pants and outer shell around the wearer's waist; and 
 (d) a retainer mounted to one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell, wherein the retainer supports a portion of the other one of (i) the inner pants and (ii) the outer shell in different positions to allow a height of the pants assembly to be adjusted.